ISSF World Championship 2026 in Doha to award first Olympic quotas for Los Angeles 2028
The ISSF World Championship 2026 in Doha, Qatar, at the Lusail Shooting Complex from November 3 to 13 will provide the first Olympic quota places for Los Angeles 2028, with 36 spots on offer across 12 individual events.
As the opening qualification event on the LA28 cycle, the championship will distribute 36 Olympic quota places — three in each of 12 individual events — across rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines; mixed team competitions at Doha will not award separate quota places. The competition has been described in the source material as the biggest single opportunity to secure Olympic quotas during the qualification cycle.
Quota competitions are scheduled between November 3 and 12. The first six places will be decided on November 3 in the men’s and women’s 10m Air Rifle events; the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol will follow on November 4; the men’s and women’s 10m Air Pistol events will award six places on November 5; men’s and women’s Skeet will offer six places on November 6; the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions will award three places on November 9; the women’s 25m Pistol is set for November 10; the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions on November 11; and the final six quota places will be decided on November 12 through the men’s and women’s Trap events.
National Olympic Committees face a maximum of one quota place per individual event, meaning an NOC can obtain up to 12 quota places in Doha if it secures the top available spot in each discipline. Quota places earned at the championship belong to the country rather than the individual shooter; each nation’s federation will later select which eligible athlete fills the allocated spots in accordance with its selection process.
India has entered three shooters in each individual Olympic event and named a 54-member contingent for Doha, featuring two-time Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker and Asian Games champion Neeru Dhanda among others; Esha Singh and Kamaljeet Sohlot are also listed as participants. The Indian delegation will contest rifle, pistol and shotgun events as part of the quota race.
The ISSF World Championship in Doha is the first step in a qualification period that continues until May 2028, with further quota places to be allocated via the 2027 World Championships, ISSF World Cups, continental championships and other designated qualification competitions.
The quota competitions conclude on November 12, and the championship continues through November 13 at the Lusail Shooting Complex; with 36 quota places available in Doha, the event provides shooters and NOCs an early opportunity to secure Olympic qualification for Los Angeles 2028.
